Newly-elected Josh Dean has made his first trip to the House of Commons as Hertford and Stortford’s first Labour MP.
The 24-year-old was born and bred in the constituency he clinched on Thursday (July 4) by overturning a 19,620 Tory majority in 2019’s General Election and thwarting Conservative Julie Marson’s efforts to hold the seat.
He posted a picture of his visit to Westminster on Facebook and X/Twitter with a message to residents: “Day one. Let’s get to work. A huge thank you to the wonderful House of Commons team for giving up their Sunday to welcome me to Parliament and help me to start getting set up.”
Bishop's Stortford's new MP Josh Dean at Westminster. Picture: Josh Dean
Earlier he told constituents: “I’ve been overwhelmed by the many messages of support since I was elected on Thursday. Thank you all so very much.
“I am in the process of getting set up as a newly-elected MP and setting up my office. I will share details of how to contact me and when and where surgeries will take place as soon as possible. For anything urgent, please contact me here at joshdeanuk@gmail.com.
“Thank you again to everyone who placed their trust in me on Thursday. The hard work starts now.”
Just before 4am on Friday, July 5, he learned he had polled 20,808 votes with Mrs Marson trailing in second place with 16,060 to give him a majority of 4,748. The swing was 20.44%.
Reform UK’s John Burmicz was third with 8,325, the Green Party’s Nick Cox fourth with 4,373 and Liberal Democrat Helen Campbell fifth with 4,167. Jane Fowler of the Alliance for Democracy and Freedom polled 139 votes and Barry Hensall of the Heritage Party 137. The turnout, at 68.4%, was above the national average.
A silent and stoney-faced Mrs Marson arrived just minutes before the result was announced by East Herts Council chief executive Richard Cassidy.
Mr Dean gave a heartfelt acceptance speech, in which thanked his predecessor for her public service, but as he turned to shake hands with all the other candidates present, she left the platform.
Victor and vanquished - Tory Julie Marson watches as Labour's Josh Dean celebrates. Picture by Gerred Gilronan
Later on Friday, she posted on her social media: “Thank you to everyone who placed their trust in me with your vote.
“I am obviously disappointed that I was not re-elected to be your member of parliament here in Hertford and Stortford.
“I extend congratulations and very best wishes to my successor. I am proud of the campaign we ran, but we could not outrun the national trend.
Defeat for Conservative Julie Marson. Picture by Gerred Gilronan
“I am extremely grateful for the support of our local members and for the many messages of support I have received from local residents.
“I also want to extend a special thank you to my husband and family for their unwavering support; I could not have done it without them.
“It truly has been a real privilege to serve this wonderful constituency.”
Mr Dean is one of 334 new MPs in the House of Commons and one of 211 fresh faces for Labour after a landslide victory in which the party secured 412 seats and a majority of 174.
In the worst Conservative defeat in history in terms of seats won, Mrs Marson was one of 251 Tories who lost, leaving 121 on the Opposition benches.
The Liberal Democrats have their highest tally since 1923, taking 72 seats, up 64 on 2019. The Green Party now has four seats and Reform UK has five.
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